Lucknow Hazratganj Walking Tour (Self Guided), Lucknow

Colloquially referred to as the heart of Lucknow, Hazratganj is the city's central shopping area with numerous malls, showrooms, bazaars, restaurants, hotels, theaters and cafés, as well as governmental offices. Apart from being a paradise for shoppers, it is also a fusion of old and modern architecture, featuring piazzas, green areas with benches and fountains, and wrought-iron and cast-iron lamp-posts flanking the sides of the walkways, reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Hazratganj got its name in 1842, after Nawab Amjad Ali Shah, whose alias was 'Hazrat', and is currently popularly known as ‘Ganj’. After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British took over the city and Hazratganj was modeled after Queen Street in London, with many old Mughal-style buildings demolished and new European structures raised in their place.

In 2010-2011, after nearly 200 years, the neighborhood received a major makeover, during which the buildings were painted in a uniform color. Also, to enhance the architecture, the beautification process involved the construction of stone pavements and Victorian-style balustrades.

Presently, the area is replete with wonderful tourist sights that are certainly worth seeing. Among them are the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly Building), the Christ Church built as a memorial to the Indian Rebellion victims in the second half of the 19th century, and, of course, the Hazratganj Market.

Other definite must-sees include St. Joseph's Cathedral Church, the biggest church in Lucknow, and Shah Najaf Imambara, a beautiful white-domed palace on the right bank of the Gomti River.

For a closer acquaintance with Hazratganj and its delights, take this self-guided walking tour.